News
Inclusion of Vulnerable, Marginalized Groups in Decision Making Key to Ending Crisis in West Africa- Tunis
Inclusion of Vulnerable, Marginalized Groups in Decision Making Key to Ending Crisis in West Africa- Tunis
By: Michael Mike
The rising crisis in West Africa, which include military coups and insecurity, inequality has been identified as one of the major factors causing the upsurge.
Even as supporting the participation of people from vulnerable and marginalized groups in the decision-making and democratic processes of the societies
has been recognized to be the key to continued peace, security and sustainable development.
Speaking at the opening of the delocalized meeting of the Joint Committee of the ECOWAS Parliament, bringing together the Committee on Political Affairs, Peace, Security and the African Peer Review Mechanism, the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights and the Committee on Social Affairs, Gender and Women Empowerment holding in Monrovia, Liberia, the Speaker of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Rt Hon. Sidie Mohamed Tunis acknowledged that every meeting of the Parliament is an opportunity to analyze and make proposals to better understand and control political, economic, and social developments in West Africa.
Tunis, while noting that the meeting will focus on one of the priorities of ECOWAS Vision 2050, which is to promote good governance and consolidate irreversible peace, security, as well as development in the region, however said: “As we all know, inequality has been one of the bases or causes of subversive acts in our region.
“The marginalization of vulnerable groups from important decision-making processes, particularly ethnic or religious minorities, women and young people, provides fertile ground for conflict of violent extremism.”
He said: “We must convince ourselves that supporting the participation of people from vulnerable and marginalized groups in the decision-making and democratic processes of our societies is imperative for peace, security and sustainable development.”
The Speaker added that: “Political inclusivity has the advantage of enabling all points of view to be expressed and taken into consideration, and of enhancing the representation of every segment of the population, including women and young people.”
He revealed that the delocalized meeting, which is being held on the theme: “Enhancing political inclusivity in the participatory governance process: a mechanism for promoting peace and security “, was part of activities designed by the ECOWAS Parliament to continually demonstrate its openness to the citizens of the region, stressing that it also provides an opportunity to share experiences and collaborate with national institutions in the pursuit of the integration objectives of ECOWAS.
Liberia’s Vice President, Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor lamented that political inclusivity is still far from being achieved, insisting that going by a few statistics as indicated by a January 2023 UN Women Facts and Figures report, women on the continent particularly and globally in general are still yet to be accorded the acceptable number in distribution of political offices.
She noted that inclusive political processes are crucial to sustaining peace and conflict prevention; establishing and strengthening political processes aimed at improving the participation and political influence of citizens; making governments and institutions more accountable and transparent, and building a stronger and more inclusive social contract between government and the people for greater access to opportunities, amongst other issues.
Taylor said though much has been done over the past 30 years to bring to the front burner the issue of equal participation of both genders, but the fact remains that even at the ECOWAS Parliament where the mandatory acceptable standard is a minimum 30% representation from each member state ; current statistics indicated that out of 115 members only 21 members are females, a mere 18.26%.
She argued quoting an unknown author that: “A woman is human. She is not better, wiser, stronger, more intelligent, more creative or more responsible than a man. Likewise, she is also not less…” She asked the parliamentarians that “as you navigate the discussions on the way forward towards greater peace and security in our sub-region, I crave your indulgence to proffer policy prescriptions which compel our National Governments to take affirmative actions for the inclusion of women at all levels in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches of governments.”
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray, in his speech, noted that the disconnect between the government and its citizens is a contributing factor to the volatility and threats to democracy in the sub-region.
Touray, who was represented by Mrs Josephine Nkrumah, Permanent Representative of the ECOWAS Commission to Liberia, urged members of the ECOWAS Parliament to consider the role of civic engagements as a key strategy to building a more inclusive society.
He said that the ECOWAS Parliament’s delocalized meeting was apt and the Commission awaits recommendations from the meeting that would act as the springboard for both Parliament and Commission to ensure inclusivity of all ECOWAS citizens in the democratic process of the sub region.
Touray said: “The seeming disconnects between the governed and those who govern have contributed in part to the volatility of the sub-region leading to discontent in our communities.
“It is pertinent that in other to have effective inclusiveness and participatory government processes, our citizens must be engaged, involved and discerning.
“We look forward to a collaborative effort to building a more inclusive society in our governance processes for peace and security which are prerequisite to our economic and social integration as a sub region.”
Inclusion of Vulnerable, Marginalized Groups in Decision Making Key to Ending Crisis in West Africa- Tunis
NSCDC BOSS PRESENT PRACTICING LICENCE TO PRIVATE SECURITY PRACTITIONERS
By: Michael Mike
As part of the Corps statutory mandate to train, supervise, monitor, and issue practicing licence to Private Guard Companies; the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Audi has presented practicing licences to 50 Private Security Practitioners.
Speaking during his keynote address while presenting the certificate at the National Headquarters of NSCDC in Abuja, the CG said that over 200 applications were received through the NSCDC Private Guard Companies Department (PGC Department and they were thoroughly screened after which only 50 companies met the requisite conditions to be issued with operational licence.
The NSCDC helmsman reiterated categorically that the Corps carried out thorough. screening and vetting before recommending the companies to the Minister of Interior for approval and issuance of practicing license.
He lauded the Minister of Interior, Hon (Dr) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who is passionate about reforms in the security sector postulating digitalisation of the registration among other measures and called on practitioners both old and new to key into it.
While appreciating the role of private security in nation building, he noted that the industry has provided about four million employment opportunities for the youths and helps in complementing efforts of conventional security agencies.
The CG NSCDC calls for prompt Intelligence gathering which he affirmed as the bedrock of Security noting that the continuous collaboration with the NSCDC and other security agencies would enhance the nation’s security apparatus.
He advised Chief Executive Officers of the new companies to adhere strictly to core ethical standards of Care and Welfare of Security Guards, timely renewal of operational licence, recruitment of qualified persons and staff appearance.
Other highlights of the event includes an address of welcome by the Head of Private Guard Companies Department, ACG Peter Samuel Maigari, fsi,
lecture entitled, “the public in the private: the need to strengthen public partnership for national security in Nigeria” delivered by Prof Tyoor Frederick Terhemba, goodwill messages by the President, Association of Licenced Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALPSPN), Dr Chris Adigwu, Managing and Director/CEO Tagged Technologies ltd, Dr Omofoman Daniel and symbolic presentation of licences to new entrants.
NSCDC BOSS PRESENT PRACTICING LICENCE TO PRIVATE SECURITY PRACTITIONERS
News
Adamawa, Borno States’ Speakers Promises Speed Inacting Social Protection Law for Vulnerable Welfare
Adamawa, Borno States’ Speakers Promises Speed Inacting Social Protection Law for Vulnerable Welfare
By: Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The members of Borno and Adamawa state House of Assembly promised to give speedy deliberation and passage a law for establishing Social Protection Agencies for faster wide spread welfare to destitute and vulnerable in their respective states.
The speakers of Borno and Adamawa state’s Assemblies Rt. Hon. Abdulkareem Lawal and Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley made the disclosure in a separate interview with our reporter in Dutse, Jigawa state capital during their learning visit on Social Protection Programme to the state.
The Borno speaker was represented by his deputy and member representing Maiduguri metropolitan State assembly constituency, Hon Kotoko Alhaji Ali promised action that would fastract an establishment of Social Protection Agency in the state.
According to him “We are here in Jigawa state to study and learn how Social protection programmes are implemented and working. We are really impressed and satisfied with the programmes’ benefits to vulnerable and less privileged people particularly people with disabilities (PWDs).”
Tokoko stated further that “it is a very good project which is dealing with poverty and support to vulnerable social economic lives. For a state like Borno where suffering for insurgency that resulted in a lot of Internally Displace People (IDP) Camps the program would help a lot improving social lives of the destitute and vulnerable”.
In his parts the speaker Adamawa state house of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bathiya Wesley who was represented by his deputy, Honourable Muhammed Buba and member representing Dambulu state’s Assembly constituency promised all support for implementing the programme in Adamawa for the benefit of the people.
He said “for the first time I saw the people who benefited from the project and it’s positively transformed their lives during a story visit to Kiyawa here in Jigawa state. I see the real by myself and impressed with the good outcome”.
“As a member representing my constituency and public servants we will not hesitated in making move to introduce the programme and establishing the agency for effective implementation”.
Hon. Buba noted that “in this our learning visit we have visited to the Jigawa state house of Assembly and interacted with the speaker and member of the house. We opportune to collected a copy of a law established the Jigawa Social Protection Agencies. We will go and study the law and do the needful”.
Reports from the state indicated that 20 members from Adamawa and Borno state’s house of Assembly were on two day field learning visit to Jigawa state on social protection programme supported by the federal military of Budget and European Union.
Adamawa, Borno States’ Speakers Promises Speed Inacting Social Protection Law for Vulnerable Welfare
ActionAid Nigeria Demands Probe of Fraud in NELFUND Scheme
By: Michael Mike
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has demanded the immediate investigation and suspension of all institutional heads complicit in the reported fraud in the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme.
ActionAid Nigeria in a signed statement by its Country Director, Andrew Mamedu on Wednesday said it was outraged by the revelations of systemic exploitation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme, with over 50 tertiary institutions across the country accused of inflating fees, withholding refunds, and financially sabotaging students who sought relief through the student loan programme.
Mamedu said: “This is not merely administrative misconduct; it is corruption in education institutions at its core.”
He lamented that: “These institutions have not only betrayed public trust but have actively undermined the very ideals of transparency, equity, and social justice that education should embody. Fee hikes ranging from N2,500 to N30,000 per student may seem trivial on paper, but when calculated across tens of thousands of students, this abuse snowballs into a multi-million-naira scandal. From ActionAid Nigeria’s conversations with students, this is seemingly not an isolated incident. It is a coordinated, normalised pattern of corruption.”
He said: “This scandal is a brutal reminder that when institutions lose their soul, students become collateral damage. These are young Nigerians who turned to the government’s loan scheme out of desperation not convenience and what they got in return was exploitation. Institutions entrusted with both academic and moral leadership have shamelessly commodified education.
“ActionAid Nigeria demands the immediate investigation and suspension of all institutional heads complicit in this fraud by their respective Governing Councils and calls on the Minister of Education and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to remain silent or passive where these Councils fail to act decisively. If eventually found guilty, they must be dismissed from public service and prosecuted without delay.
“We also call on the EFCC and ICPC to move beyond mere observation or investigation and take decisive legal action”
He also noted that: “One would have thought that paying institutions directly was the more efficient and secure route to minimise risks of student misuse and ensure timely tuition payments. But once again, these public institutions have proven incapable of individual and institutional accountability, turning a system built for support into one ripe for exploitation.’’
Mamedu further said: “While ActionAid Nigeria commends NELFUND and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) for taking the bold step of naming institutions involved in the mismanagement of student loan funds, naming alone is not justice. We urge that NELFUND and the Federal Ministry of Education immediately conduct independent forensic audits of all implicated schools; mandate public disclosure of how funds were received and used; ensure full refunds to all affected students; and establish student-led monitoring mechanisms to prevent future misuse.
“ActionAid Nigeria also urges the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Federal Ministry of Education to step up nationwide awareness campaigns so that students are not kept in the dark about the loans they have received, the institutions that benefited, and the rights they must now reclaim.”
Mamedu noted that: “This is about more than just student loans. We must strive to build a nation where dignity, fairness, and equal access to opportunities, services, and resources are non-negotiable. We also join our voices with activists, civil society, and concerned citizens in demanding that this scandal not be buried under bureaucracy.”
ActionAid Nigeria Demands Probe of Fraud in NELFUND Scheme
UNODC, NAPTIP, Immigration, MDAs, Collaborate to Change Nigeria’s Migration Landscape
NSCDC BOSS PRESENT PRACTICING LICENCE TO PRIVATE SECURITY PRACTITIONERS
Adamawa, Borno States’ Speakers Promises Speed Inacting Social Protection Law for Vulnerable Welfare
Roger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoRoger Federer’s Shock as DNA Results Reveal Myla and Charlene Are Not His Biological Children
-
Opinions3 years ago
THE PLIGHT OF FARIDA
-
Opinions3 years ago
POLICE CHARGE ROOMS, A MINTING PRESS
-
News1 year agoEYN: Rev. Billi, Distortion of History, and The Living Tamarind Tree
-
Columns1 year agoArmy University Biu: There is certain interest, but certainly not from Borno.
-
ACADEMICS1 year agoA History of Biu” (2015) and The Lingering Bura-Pabir Question (1)
-
Opinions1 year agoTinubu,Shettima: The epidemic of economic, insecurity in Nigeria
-
Politics8 months agoKashim Shettima: Of Sentiments, Their Opinions, and the 21 billion Naira VP’s Official Resident
